Accused people smuggler says he helped out of duty

An alleged people smuggler has told a Perth court he provided assistance to asylum seekers in Indonesia because it was his duty .

35-year-old Hadi Ahmadi is on trial accused of helping more than nine hundred asylum seekers travel from Indonesia to Christmas Island on four boats in 2001.

It is alleged Mr Ahmadi was part of a people smuggling ring and provided the asylum seekers with transport and accommodation.

In his evidence, he admitted helping asylum seekers but maintained it was his duty and obligation because if he did not help them no one else would.

He also said he understood how the asylum seekers felt because he'd also been forced to leave his homeland and had wanted to travel to Australia but had had two failed boat trips.

He said the asylum seekers were in Indonesia illegally and he feared if they were arrested they would be deported or put in immigration detention.

Earlier Mr Ahmadi said he ended up in Indonesia after fleeing Iraq and Iran because he feared for his life.

He testified he made two attempts to travel to Australia but the boats had to turn back and he then was taken into immigration detention where he spent months before being recognised as a refugee by the United Nations.

Mr Ahmadi said he was then asked by a people smuggler to work for him.